by Joni Astrup Associate editor With the snip of a ribbon, Elk River opened a new destination playground at Orono Park on Tuesday, June 25. After a few speeches during the grand opening ceremony, Mayor John Dietz cut the ribbon and a flood of eager children raced into the new playground to try it ou...Read More

by Joni Astrup Associate editor They rise early to bake up a storm, and by afternoon the women from Laestadian Lutheran Church of Elk River are ready to hit the local farmers markets. They will be selling their fresh baked goods, including a popular Finnish coffee bread called pulla, at the Nowthen ...Read More

by Joni Astrup Associate editor Ryan Thompson grew up on a farm in Nowthen, and farming is in his blood. He took over his grandfather’s vegetable farming business after Wally Thompson died and today, he and his wife, Becky, grow produce on 15 acres of land in Nowthen. “I enjoy doing it,” he sa...Read More

ArtSoup, the arts festival sponsored by the Elk River Area Arts Alliance, will be held Saturday, June 15, downtown Elk River by the riverfront. This is a free, family-friendly event, featuring art, live music, food, dance and theater. There will be art sales booths with painting, glass, jewelry, pot...Read More

by Britt Aamodt Contributing writer Sue Seeger was one of two women in the welding class at Anoka-Hennepin Technical College. This was the 1990s. She had left a job in business, she was over 30, and she was a student again. “My original idea was more businessy,” said Seeger. “I thought, well, ...Read More

by Jim Boyle Editor Downtown Elk River just got busier on Thursday nights. Reading Frenzy and the Elk River Area Arts Alliance kicked off their town picnic and author grilling schedule that fed right into the Downtown Concert Series sponsored by The Bank of Elk River each year. The first band was Ar...Read More

An Elk River woman died in a motorcycle accident in Brooklyn Park June 1. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, Louise Moyer, 63, of Elk River, was riding on a motorcycle driven by Leroy Moyer, 72, of Elk River. The motorcycle was going north on Highway 169 near 63rd Avenue in Brooklyn Park short...Read More